Tom Wood, founder of Everwear Inc., started his career in the specialty steel industry in 1965 as a warehouseman. From there, for the next 16 years, he traveled across America as a specialty steel sales engineer gathering a working knowledge of specialty steels, their heat treatment and applications. It was during this period in which he visited a variety of machine shops and manufacturing operations that he recognized a 'gap' in the industry. He found that many equipment manufacturers subcontract their knife and anvil production. Lacking a working knowledge of specialty metals, most subcontractors did not have the ability to make cutters with the newest materials. Thus, the 'gap' existed for the end user.

Tom realized an opportunity to apply his knowledge and earn his customers' trust and business through improving their cutting applications. He improved customer production rates by providing cutters made with higher wearing specialty steels and offering advanced service throughout product life.